Computer Ughs

Video card officially the problem. Can't even get it to work with basic drivers. I'm going to boot in safe mode and transfer some things over to a thumb drive. Then I can work on my husband's computer or on the old PC in the back room. Just glad I'm not completely cut off.

Wonky Computer

Tuesday night I was playing a video game when the screen went wonky with colored lines and I had to manually shut down. Usually that happens when the video card is overheating, so I sprayed out the dust, made sure all the parts were secure, and let it sit overnight. Next morning, seemed to boot up fine. I clicked to open an excel item, and hello Aurora Borealis. Looked like a modern art landscape with all the curvy colors. Shut back down and used my husband’s computer until he was off work.

Hubby messed with my computer when he got home. After trying some things, and some research online, the problem appears to be the RAM on the video card going out. Ugh. We really can’t afford a new card right now. Thankfully, he worked it out so my PC is using only the basic VGA graphics. I can’t run any games, or make full use of my monitor, but I can still use the internet and write.

On the plus side, that means less distractions for NaNoWriMo. I’m just glad I’m not stuck using my husband’s computer (or the old one in the back room) for writing. And I still have consoles for gaming, so it’s not the hugest loss. Just no MMOs, Sims, Civ… So staying positive.

My Writing Space

Thanks to some of the inspiring workshops at the Muse Online Writers Conference, a Barnes and Noble gift card, and the upcoming NaNoWriMo, I finally got around to REALLY decluttering my work space this last week.

I don’t have a before picture, but imagine a desk with a stack of various sized papers on the left, hidden under notebooks. Pens always getting lost, to do lists hidden. No wonder I didn’t notice when I lost my first bliss book. Now that I’m really happy with my space, I’m determined to keep it clean.

 

 

How my clutter-less desk will help free me:

• I bought a gorgeous butterfly day planner, so I won’t have a million little papers all over my desk.
• I also got a large hardback notebook (for writing related stuff only) to sit on my desk, which won’t fit if the space is cluttered (motivation!).
• I found a nice pen to use with my new planner and notebook. All three of which will fit in my shoulder bag nicely.
• Owl City and Celtic music not only in easy reach, but not hidden by a stack of whatever.
• Scented hand lotion to soothe and refresh. Currently, vanilla.
• Not shown is a pink water bottle which sits on the desk calendar. Need to keep hydrated.
• Worry stone in easy reach for while thinking/stressed, instead of hidden in drawer.
• Computer desktop is nicely organized using Fences, a free program from Stardock.

What hasn’t changed are all the little friends on my top shelf. I don’t have as many folders and books up there to crowd them anymore, and do need to keep them dusted. And that pile of stuff in front of the white bear needs to get hung somewhere. Choir medal from graduation, dream catcher, and bead lizard.

 

Ideally, and maybe someday when we have a bigger house, I would have an entire office or nook, with a separate computer for writing only. What’s your writing space like?

Stuff to make you Smile

My cats hunting a fly. Didn’t catch it on film, but Topher actually did catch and eat it.

 

And this video is going around on Facebook. Made of awesome! I love when grown men don’t mind being ridiculous. :-)

 

The Rejected Peach

I have a bunch of fresh peaches from my parent’s tree. My husband doesn’t like peaches, but my son does. So I thought I’d be able to share  with him. Apparently he only wants peaches from a can. I thought this was due to the skin, but last night I found out the truth.

 

Me: Why don’t you like the peaches?

B: They have butts!

 

Peach Butt

Nerdgasm

Major revisions are out of the way for Fey Moon. Where do I go from here?

 

This Week:

I’m going to go over the first scene again, using feedback from the latest Secret Agent contest. Then I’ll polish my query, update my outline and synopsis.

 

October:

Submit a batch of queries for FM before The Muse Online Writers Conference, where I’ll be pitching to a publisher.

With those edits out of the way, I can return to writing Trinity Coven. Don’t want to make a solid word count or chapter goal, as I will be attending the aforementioned conference.

 

November:

NaNoWriMo! Honestly, with TC still in progress, and not “winning” last year, I was leaning towards not participating this year. What changed my mind? Scrivener. When I first heard about this writing software, I got super excited. I love lists and having everything organized. I have dozens of documents filled with characters, world info, drafts. All for one manuscript. I would love a way to keep all that managed. Bad news? It’s only been for Mac. Better news? In Jan/Feb 2011 it’s coming out for Windows! How do I justify to my husband that I must have this software?

Anyone who participates in NaNoWriMo this year and achieves their 50,000 words (and has them validated) will get a 50% discount coupon which they will be able to use when Scrivener for Windows is released next year. (source)

I think I had a writer-nerdgasm while watching the preview video. So. NaNoWriMo 2010. I’m in. Are you?

Project Update

I’ve been making good progress on my revisions. I’m feeling really good about the changes so far. As of this morning, 100 pages to go. I came up with a new title that I really like: Fey Moon. I took it from the world’s calendar. Another reason I’m excited about the new title, is that it opens up title ideas for future books in the same series. Each taken from one of the Moons (months). I already have ideas for Spider Moon (tentative title was already Moon Spider), and Blood Moon (War of the Fey). With fourteen Moons, I have lots of inspiration. :-)

Now, back to revisions. I want to get this done so I can reward myself with some Red Vines and Civilization V.